Networks and Studios Scramble to Reschedule Violent Programming

The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut early yesterday left 28 dead, including 20 children and the gunman, and immediately set off alarms in the offices of major networks and studios, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Fox decided to cancel Sunday’s brand-new episodes of Family Guy and American Dad, replacing them with reruns, although original Simpsons and Cleveland Show programming will still be allowed to air. Syfy bumped last night’s episode of Haven, in which a shooter rampages through a high school reunion, in favor of an old episode of wacky inventor show Eureka. Fuse pulled Friday’s episode of Funny or Die’s hilarious but regularly inappropriateBilly on the Street with Billy Eichner. Saturday Night Live, however, was deemed safe enough for a live show tonight. Meanwhile, in Hollywood, Paramount Pictures postponed the Pittsburgh premiere of Tom Cruise’s action flick Jack Reacher, which features a sniper gunning down passersby. Score one for sensitivity.